TAKE 5 August 2022 by Take 5 Print & Digital Media

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AUGUST 2022

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Letters Holland Creek’s sad state First off, let me start by saying that progress is important and I am by no means against it. If anything, it’s exciting and I am optimistic that humans will begin to work together to live in a more symbiotic relationship with Planet Earth. However, the way that the Town of Ladysmith has dealt with the Holland Creek Trail developments shows that they do not have everyone’s best interest in mind. It appears as though a profit-first mentality has been taken on board with whomever green lit those projects. As a long-time local, it’s very sad to see the trail blocked off, trees ripped up and the long-standing natural beauty destroyed, all for more houses. This not only impacts the ecosystem, but it also affects the people and dogs that enjoy the trail and maintain an active lifestyle, which is critical for mental and physical

health benefits. Could the Town not develop in a smarter way, such as refurbishing or demolishing structures in the downtown area for apartments in order to provide more aﬀordable and sustainable housing? Is there land elsewhere that is not close to local watersheds that would be less impacted by development? Does our town need as many ball fields as we have or could the one in the downtown core be developed into parking and more housing? I, for one, hope to see the trails reopened as soon as possible, a much more responsible approach to development and an explanation as to how this is sustainable and ethical growth for all who call this place home. I am not alone in my disappointment and hope that many other local residents voice their concerns before more land devastation occurs. — Tyler Buck

Cedar Hall: Home for the Heart I was blown away by the Home for the Heart play today at the Cedar Hall, an excellent example of reminiscence theatre. There were seven scenes in all

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— each interactive with the audience — which were moving, educational, engaging and humorous. After the play finished, the actors and the Yellow Point Drama Group (YPDG) personally served delicious cake and tea to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the building of the Cedar Hall. As we ate our cake, it was so enjoyable to watch the follow-up presentation of a slide program of facts and photos of the historic events and figures. It helped consolidate the history of what had just been presented in the play. Then the theatre group shared how they researched the history and the script-writing process. This was very interesting — I could say, more like fantastic. For example, they decided to research the archival minutes of community meetings that took place over 100 years ago. Those minutes documented the discussions and decisions made about many things, like buying and clearing of the land and the processes of the building of the hall. This provided the play with the setting, part of the content, and the inspiration about how some scenes would be enacted.

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And then they called upon the audience to share their memories of the hall. How delightful and clever of them! I really liked the process: how they drew out the people present to contribute to the sharing of that history. It made it come alive in the present day — a great example of how the arts evoke and promote community spirit. What an enthusiastic, skilled and very gracious theatre group. I chatted with a few of them before the play began, and, at the very end before going home, of course, I bought the magazine produced for the occasion! The history magazine is a new edition of a 1958 book of local history written by Hazel Galloway (the hall centennial group contacted Hazel’s daughter, and she produced a new edition for the hall’s centennial). All in all, great community theatre and a lovely way to spend a summer afternoon in Cedar! — Lynn Echevarria, Ladysmith

Librarians credit overdue I was reading your last issue, where the MLA for our area was celebrating the increase to libraries funding. He said, “Libraries are pillars in our communities — they provide vital services, including information, educational programs and a place for people to connect.” I totally agree with him in this, but my question is, why didn’t he fight harder for a salary increase for the librarians? The BCGEU new contract spans a fouryear period, from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2024, with the new terms “retroactive to its start date.” Some of the new terms include a $500 signing bonus for all active employees and a raise of more than 12 per cent over the four-year period. As Mr. Routley stated, librarians are some of the most important people in our society, but they are still underpaid; not like politicians that “gave” themselves a 10 per cent increase this year. I have even sent the premier an email asking about that but have received no answer. When did the servants get to live better than the ones they serve? — T. Hanssen Letters to the editor on community topics and concerns are welcome. Send letters to editor@take5.ca.

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Quentin Goodbody, President of The Ladysmith & District Historical Society (centre) receives a $5000 cheque from Ross Davis, Vice President of the Ladysmith Credit Union (right), to support staging the upcoming August 6 musical event featuring ‘Beatlemania Unplugged’ and a ‘Buddy Holly Tribute’ with Zachary Stevenson at the Aggie Hall, Ladysmith. Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone, a rock’n’roll aficionado, looks on. Photo courtesy of LDCU. (left) Headliner Zachary Stevenson aka Buddy Holly. photo submitted.

Blast from the Past Tribute at Aggie Hall The Ladysmith Agricultural Hall is 100 years old this year. Back in the day, it was well known for its dances, including hosting some of rock’s greatest – Roy Orbinson and Jerry Lee Lewis. On Saturday, August 6 you will get a chance to go back in time with a lineup of music and entertainment in the Aggie Hall and

Field in Ladysmith starting at 1:30 pm. This is a fundraiser for the Ladysmith & District Historical Society to help celebrate the Ladysmith Agricultural Hall, fondly known as the Aggie. First up, at 1:30 p.m., is “Let’s Dance!” Local dancers will demonstrate locomotion, bunny hop, mashed potato, jive and the twist. Join in and show oﬀ your dance moves! Beatle Mania Unplugged then takes to the Aggie Field Stage from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., sharing the Beatles catalogue in chronological order, tied in with facts and anecdotes. This will be followed by

a break for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be a beer garden on the Field, organized by Ladysmith Kinsman Club, and food trucks, including the Yellow Sub Machine, Trio’s Truck Extreme Mac and Cheese, and Cool Dudes Pie and Ice Cream. Then at 7 p.m., Zachary Stevenson, aka Buddy Holly will take the stage, featuring hits such as “That’ll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” and “Rave On.” Zachary Stevenson presents Buddy Holly perfectly. He has the guitar licks down to a tee, and his superb vocals make him equally comfortable with the

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sweet ballads or on-the-edge rock-a-billy songs, bringing the audience to their feet. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets! Kids under 12 with adults are free. Tickets are $20 at Ladysmith & District Credit Union, Ladysmith Pharmasave, Uforik Computers, Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre, and Fascinating Rhythm in Nanaimo. You can also purchase the Limited-Edition Tickets via www.Eventbrite.ca Watch for the Aggie 100 main event on September 24, which will commemorate its 100 years. Updates on the 100th anniversary can be found at www.ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca/aggie-hall and at Ladysmith Agricultural Hall Celebration on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ groups/1136878433400975/).

Ladysmith Show ‘n’ Shine BY DUCK PATERSON In what has become a downtown tradition, the annual Ladysmith Show ‘n’ Shine will be making its appearance again on Saturday, August 20th. The 18-year history of this significant Island car show has unfortunately not been continuous because of Covid, but in 2021 it made a resounding comeback. “It was way bigger than we had anticipated,” said show chair Martin Byrne. Last year’s show featured over 325 vehicles and the committee is expecting that this figure may be higher this summer. The show is an opportunity for classic car enthusiasts, as well as backyard rebuilders and all others to show oﬀ their rides. Although there are trophies for certain groups, “Each vehicle has its own history and distinctive look and appeal,” Byrne said. “The people’s choice award is the one that everyone wants, that’s the award that is chosen by all the spectators and that means a hell of a lot to the vehicle owner,” he said. The show would not be possible without the support of the community. LCU Insurance has been a prime sponsor since day one. This year another prime sponsor, Lordco Auto Parts,

Ladysmith’s Show ‘n’ Shine, 2021. The event continues to grow. Photo courtesy of Duck Paterson

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has come forward The show is also supported by the Town of Ladysmith, a multitude of local businesses, and the Pacific Coast Mustang Association volunteers. The organizers always need more volunteers. To help call 780-799-5425.

The signing of the Reconciliation Agreement between Stz’uminus First Nation and the Government of British Columbia. Stz’uminus Chief Roxanne Harris and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin. Photo: Rob Johnson.

Stz’uminus signs agreement A new reconciliation agreement between Stz’uminus First Nation and British Columbia establishes commitments to work together on community priorities and future land transfers provide support for economic development and establish funding for future environmental remediation activities in Ladysmith Harbour. “There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into the negotiation of this agreement,” said Stz’uminus Chief Roxanne Harris. “Stz’uminus looks forward to the next steps in the implementation.” The signing of the reconciliation agreement is an incremental step toward the parties together identifying potential provincial Crown land for transfer, and a commitment to land transfer agreements of as much as $28.5 million. “The Province is looking to build new pathways to reconciliation, in partnership with Nations,” said Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “By working collaboratively with Stz’uminus, we have come up with an agreement that includes a framework for future discussions related to revenue sharing, self-government, increasing Stz’uminus’ participation in the forestry sector, cultural, economic and social supports, something that is deeply important to both the Nation and the Province.” The agreement also provides Stz’uminus with $3 million in immediate financial benefits to support Stz’uminus’s economic development initiatives, including the acquisition of private land within its territory, and sets objectives for the Province and Stz’uminus to negotiate future agreements related to forestry and collaborative resource stewardship. “I am so proud of the work our government has undertaken to further meaningful reconciliation with First Nations – from

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investments in housing and language restoration to enshrining the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into legislation – these have been some of the proudest moments in my time as MLA,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo- North Cowichan. In addition, the Province is providing Stz’uminus with $10 million over five years to support Stz’uminus-led remediation in key Crown land areas of Ladysmith harbour with the goal of supporting the Nation’s land acquisition and management plans within the harbour.

Emergency operations centre funding New Democrat MLA Doug Routley says that new provincial emergency preparedness funding will help improve emergency operation centres, and better equip local governments and First Nations in the Cowichan Valley to respond to emergencies and keep people safe. “Here in the Cowichan Valley, people have seen firsthand how important it is to be prepared for extreme weather emergencies, whether flooding or forest fires. Local governments and First Nations are a big part of the response, and this investment is part of our commitment to ensure communities are prepared.” Over $3.2 million in funding is being shared among 84 First Nations and local governments to help communities build or upgrade emergency operations centres (EOCs), purchase equipment, or enhance capacity through volunteer recruitment, retention and training. The Cowichan Valley Regional District is receiving $125,000 in funding. With this grant, CVRD will build a mobile EOC trailer to support emergency responders onsite to enhance communication, interoperability, decision making and situational awareness. Other projects being funded in the region includes Stz’uminus First Nation - $25,000 for EOC Capacity Development. Budget 2022 provides $2.1 billion to support communities in building back better from recent disasters, and to strengthen defences to make sure people across B.C. are protected from future disasters.

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Town, BGC Central Vancouver Island break ground The Town of Ladysmith and Boys and Girls Club Central Vancouver Island are excited to break ground on a major addition to the Town-owned building at 220 High Street that will create more aﬀordable childcare solutions for families and caregivers. The over 1,000 sq-ft building renovation and improvements to the outdoor play area are the result of an $875,000 grant received through the Union of BC Municipalities and will facilitate the creation of 12 new infant/toddler spaces. The Town’s capital works plan had budgeted funds to upgrade the building’s exterior and will complete the exterior work once

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this expansion is complete to ensure a uniform appearance. Enhancements include an open concept main child care area featuring curved wall window panels allowing for plenty of natural light, a separate nap room, two new washrooms, an office, and a foyer area to welcome families and caregivers. Additionally, a new accessible playground and appropriate surfacing will be installed and open to the public outside of operating hours. “This important expansion goes a long way to not only adding much-needed additional childcare spaces in Ladysmith but also improving the quality of care, enjoyment and learning opportunities for all of the children and families who rely on the BGC Central Vancouver Island each day,” said Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone.

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Working through the design phase with PHI Architecture, the Town was able to retain several mature trees that are located on the grounds – providing

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shade protection for the outdoor play area as well as the building. The trees are visible from the new daycare space and the tree motif is ex-

pressed in the interior design with a central peeled Douglas fir post that has ceiling joists radiating from it to suggest tree branches. “Children are our future and our vision here at BGC Central Vancouver Island is that all children and youth discover and achieve their dreams and grow up to be healthy, successful, and active participants in society. We are excited to be once again collaborating with the Town of Ladysmith to increase much-needed childcare spaces at our Ladysmith location,” said BGC Central Vancouver Island Executive Director Karen Love. The improvements to the BGC Central Vancouver Island building and the creation of 12 new infant/toddler daycare spaces is a step forward in implementing recommendations contained within the Cowichan Region Child Care Plan adopted by Council in 2020. The BGC Central Vancouver Island is continuing to operate out of the High Street building throughout the construction period. BGC Central Vancouver Island building ground-breaking. Photo: Audrey Haslam

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Arts on the Avenue returns in Ladysmith. Photo submitted.

Arts on the Avenue The iconic Ladysmith event Arts on the Avenue is back and celebrating its 24th year! Over two days residents and tourists will come together on First Avenue to shop local arts and explore local community groups and businesses. The weekend kicks oﬀ with Light Up the Night, a popular evening out on the town to browse local arts vendors, listen to live music, cheer on our competitors in the paint competition, eat good food and dance the night away with the Del Rio Band. Arts on the Avenue is a juried original art show and sale, celebrating visual and performing arts while oﬀering demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages, as well as live music. Featuring artists from up and down the Island and Gulf Islands, the event will display a variety of works including pottery, jewelry, indigenous made art, metal work, fiber art, leatherwork, glass, paintings, woodwork and much more for visitors to browse and shop. Arts on the Avenue will also include a kids art tent for young creators to take part in art projects, story time and banner painting. With over 6,000 attendees in the past, this day will feature guest artist Coco Jones from the Cowichan Valley. A self-taught artist, Coco works with

paint on canvas, where her art style is often described as a form of abstract expressionism. Drawn to nature, dreams, meditation and ceremony in her creative process, she hopes her work will remind people that love, community and art are at the centre of all things, and their importance during diﬃcult times can impact us all greatly. View Coco’s work and meet her in person under the big white tent. Hosted by the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District, these events will take place on First Avenue, from Buller Street to Warren Street in downtown Ladysmith. Light Up the Night takes place on Saturday August 27, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Arts on the Avenue will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 28. For more information and a full list of vendors and artists, visit www. artsontheavenue.ca.

Concerts in the Park Series The LRCA Concerts in the Park have returned to the stunning Ladysmith Transfer Beach Amphitheatre. Two performances were a smash hit in July. “The generosity of the crowd was amazing as donations hit a record as the storm clouds parted and the sun shone on the venue,” says Rick Rake, LRCA manager of communications and events

Chris Noel and his band, the Burning House. Photo submitted.

following the first concert, Beatlemania Unplugged. Coming up in August, locals and visitors will delight in the musical performances of Chris Noel and his band, the Burning House, on August 14 at 6 p.m. and the Tasha Adams Quartet on August 21 at 6 p.m.

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Admission is by donation, with all donations going towards supporting the LRCA programs. Chris Noel’s band, the Burning House, includes Dave Lieffertz on piano and Adam Drake on drums. “Musicians are messengers of love. And we are people. People like music, they like to get up and dance,” states Chris Noel. He believes in the power of educating young people about blues and jazz music, and the importance of keeping it alive. Chris Noel and the Burning House will be sure to have you dancing all around the amphitheater! In Noel’s words: “If you don’t start tapping your toe, you’re dead.” The band will play easy-to-dance-to retro rock and roll, jump-swing tunes for all to enjoy. Get your dancing shoes ready! The Tasha Adams Quartet puts a fun spin on well-loved standards! Tasha, a VIU Jazz alumna, got her start in music through the vibrant musical community of Nanaimo. Tasha believes in the importance of community support for young musicians and appreciates having had the opportunity to be raised in such a community. During her time at VIU, she met many musicians that she now calls lifelong friends. Three of these musicians are now in her band: Graham Villette, Kosma Busheikin and Jesse Marshall, also VIU alum. The Tasha Adams Quartet will be sure to delight all audiences with their twists on classic jazz standards! When asked to describe their sound, Tasha replied, “Lighthearted fun, but still musically proficient.” Come out and support these wonderful jazz musicians! The Concerts in the Park series is made possible by gracious donations from Ladysmith businesses: Ladysmith & District Credit Union; Branch 171 Ladysmith Royal Canadian Legion; FMI Installations; Little Valley Collision and Glass; Bouma Meats; Evergreen Crematorium; Brian Childs Construction; and Big O Tires. Media sponsors Ladysmith Chemainus Chronicle and TAKE 5 Magazine.

Ladysmith Author Receives Grant Access Copyright Foundation has announced that for the 2022 Marian Hebb Research Grants, 22 creators, publishers and organizations will receive a total of $100,000 in funding to pursue their projects, and amongst these is Dr. Marc Edge from Ladysmith. Edge was recently awarded a research grant of $3,500 to travel to Victoria and research foreign ownership of Canadian media. “This is in aid of my seventh book. It will be on Postmedia Network, Canada’s largest newspaper chain, which is two-thirds owned by a New Jersey hedge fund,” he writes in his email. Edge was a journalist for 20 years in his first career, during which he held senior positions as a reporter and editor at the Calgary Herald and Vancouver Province and also wrote extensively for magazines. He was a university professor for 20 years in his second career, during which he taught at universities in five countries, including Singapore, Fiji and Malta. In between, he sailed his 40-foot ketch Markenurh to the South Pacific and back. He is the author of five books, mostly on Canadian media, with a sixth forthcoming on UK newspapers. He moved to Ladysmith last fall and now keeps Markenurh at Raven Point Marina. He is a regular contributor to Canadian Dimension.

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philosophically. “I don’t see it as danger but adventure.” Packed full of adventure, Adventures in Central America: Halfway There! features 266 pages with 157 full colour pictures and maps and is available through Amazon.ca and at Salamander Books for $29.99. There are also limited copies at the TAKE 5 oﬃce. Watch for the release of the companion book in the fall of 2022 — Adventures in Central America: Beyond the Papagayo, Mexico to Costa Rica. For more info email gunsonaj@hotmail.com or follow thenakedcanadian. wordpress.com.

New Sailing Adventure Book Cedar resident Andrew W. Gunson, adventurer, diver, author and lecturer, has released Adventures in Central America: Halfway There! book one of a two-part cruising series chronicling his latest adventures sailing and exploring Central America aboard the 53-foot sailing ketch SV Maiatla. Andrew and his wife, Janet, are lifelong cruisers, sailing from the wild west coast of Canada, where they raised two children while afloat. The latest two titles are part of the Naked Canadian Cruising series, spanning 20 years and 30,000 nautical miles, 13 countries and territories. In Adventures in Central America: Halfway There! Andrew and Janet leave their home port of Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, for a four-year sailing odyssey bound for the Panamá Canal and the Caribbean Sea beyond. Join the crew — which included TAKE 5 editor, Marina Sacht, for parts of the voyage — as they sail their way along the rugged Pacific Northwest to California’s San Francisco Bay, then on to the wind-swept Channel Islands and fi nally the isolated frontier of the Mexican Baja Peninsula. Dive in for a mid-ocean swim with a giant sunfish, explore and spearfish for lobsters in California’s spectacular Channel Islands, commune with the shark fishermen of Magdalena Bay, Baja, and share the magic of New Year’s Eve in the renowned Cabo San Lucas. Follow Maiatla’s voyage and discover volcanic isles, ride on the back of a whale sharks, swim with sea lions and dive the finest coral reefs the Pacific Coast has to oﬀer. You will be amazed and captivated by the legendary marine life of the Sea of Cortez, as massive pods of dolphins

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Cedar author and sailor Andrew Gunson’s newest release chronicles their ongoing adventures aboard the Maiatla II.

and humpback whales come to call. “There were many unforgettable moments on the journey,” says Gunson, but his favourite was riding the whale sharks in the Sea of Cortes. But it wasn’t all fun and games. Going oﬀshore can be risky. There can be equipment malfunctions, navigation hazards and stormy weather. And Gunson was most concerned with two cases: “One was leaving so late in the year, just ahead of storm season. A few days later, we would have been caught in the first major storm to strike the BC coast that year, and the second was the heavy pirate activity around Mazatlán. Anchoring out when boats were getting targeted by pirates each night was hair-raising.” So, why do they do it? What makes him sail into danger? Gunson shrugs

Jane Wolters Pottery Cowichan Valley Artist Jane Wothers has been potting for 45 years and still loves it. “Most of my work is highfired stoneware tableware and porcelain glazed, with classic Chinese celadons and copper reds. Also, I’ve been experimenting with low-fired saggar ware (smoked with organic materials).” She’s one of the artists who will be in the Cowichan Valley Arts Council fall studio tour on September 10, but visitors are welcome to visit her at her studio (please call first). Photo: Russell Rabby

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Best Dives When Jacques Cousteau proclaimed the spectacular coastal waters of British Columbia, Vancouver Island and Nanaimo to be “the best temperate water diving in the world and second only to the Red Sea,” you know you’ll be diving at one of the world’s top dive destinations. With enough dive sites to fill any vacation or for locals to enjoy during their weekends, our waters offer diversity from sea life and abundant reefs to stunning walls, a sunken airplane and ship wrecks — this is a diver’s mecca. Marilyn Griffiths of Scuba Press writes, “Wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, anemones, nudibranchs and sponges, harbour seals and Stellar sea lions are just part of a regular dive day off Nanaimo.” Meet Nanaimo resident and avid diver Don Ravensbergen (aka Diver Don). Don began diving at 50 years of age to fulfill a bucket-list wish he had since being a kid. He just knew that if he didn’t try it, he probably never would. Here are some of his favourte local dive sites. There is a wreck located in Stuart Channel, north of Thetis Island, called the Robert Kerr. Recognized by the Vancouver Maritime Museum, this barque (converted to a coal barge) struck a reef and sunk on March 4, 1911. It is an interesting wreck to explore and has some history, as this ship was known as “the ship that saved Vancouver.” Back in June of 1886, as fire raged through the city, the Robert Kerr became a refuge for residents fleeing the blaze. The Robert Kerr is one of the few wrecks to be recognized under the BC Heritage Conservation Act.

A Boeing 737-200 air plane oﬀ of Chemainus, near the Kinsmen Beach Park, was sunk by the Artificial Reel Society of BC back in 2006. Having dove there myself, I have to say it is an interesting and unique site to visit. The plane is resting on giant tripods, so it appears suspended oﬀ of the bottom — pretty cool! Dodd Narrows, located in south Nanaimo between Cedar and Mudge Island, is about 70 feet wide. If you like extreme diving with awesome rewards, this is the dive for you! The amount of marine life and colour on this dive is absolutely amazing. Every time you look in a new direction, there is more to see. Currents can often run between five and nine knots, so be prepared! Divers are pretty much guaranteed to

Don Ravensbergen. Photo submitted.

see any of the following on their dives in the area: rockfish, lingcod, anemones, perch, crabs, nudibranchs, dogfish sharks, squid, octopus, Pacific lumpsuckers, grunt sculpins … the list goes and goes! Don also wrote, illustrated and published the children’s books An Emerald Sea for You and Me and Colour My Seas of Green, a rhyming, fun and adventurous tale and a colouring book. Both were inspired by Don’s love of scuba diving and by all the amazing creatures one sees while scuba diving here. His latest book BC Canada: Colour My Province Beautiful is available at Salamader Books and other outlets. Visit his site for more info www.vancou-

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Housing complaint made BY KERITH WADINGTON Contention over the tenanting of an aﬀordable, independent development for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities in Ladysmith has resulted in the lodging of a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. The Ladysmith Supported Housing Committee (SHC) filed the complaint. They are a grassroots organization of parents and caregivers whose adult children have intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) as well as self-advocates. In the complaint, the SHC contends that BC government policies are “facilitating economic barriers and discriminatory practices against persons with IDD.” Specifically, they note the inadequacy of the $375 allotted to persons with IDD each month from the government for shelter. This amount has not changed since 2007, despite the fact that rents have tripled, if not quadrupled, since then. They also mention that persons with IDD face significant discrimination in the private rental market, as landlords often do not want someone with IDD in their buildings. Together, economic barriers paired with discrimination means that many persons with IDD often end up living as adults with their aging parents, in group homes or shared accommodations, or on the streets. And as their parents age, the ability to house their adult children with IDD becomes ever more precarious. It is with this in mind that the SHC filed their Human Rights complaint. But there are two specific BC Housing policies in particular that they feel erect further roadblocks. First, some context. The four-storey, 36-unit building going up on Buller Street is the end result of two groups working together for the past seven years: the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) and the SHC. According to the SHC and many others in the community, the original vision for the community housing project was to house an equal number of low- to moderate-income seniors, persons with IDD, and families within the building. These were target groups identified as most in need of assistance in finding adequate, aﬀordable housing. In practice, that would mean 12 homes to each of the identified groups. BC Housing announced the Community Housing Fund (CHF) in April 2018. The LRCA Board (and a number of committees including the SHC) worked together to submit a housing proposal for the funding, which was approved in November 2018. In 2018, the submission to BC Housing identified that the purpose of the housing project is to “build a home for low- and moderate-income families, seniors and persons with developmental disabilities.” As the building nears completion, quesRendering of 314 Buller Street building in Ladysmith. Photo submitted.

Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (l-r) Vicky Stickwood-Hislop, Chair of LRCA board of directors; Eliina Alle, Food Bank coordinator; Carmen Hildebrand, Manager of Community Support Services; Tia Schaeffer, Family & Youth Support Services worker; Barb Champagne, Office Manager; Rick Rake, Manager of Communications and Events; Lacey Redding, Family & Youth Support Services worker; Karen Laing, Executive Director; Brianne Broadhurst, Family & Youth Support Services worker; and Laurie Armstrong, Financial Officer. Photo: Marina Sacht

tions arose over how persons with IDD would be accommodated in the 36-unit “Heart on the Hill” building, funded in part through BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund (CHF). These discussions with the LRCA and BC Housing identified obstacles to populating the building, as outlined in 2018 submission, which resulted in the SHC filing a Human Rights complaint on May 3. However, BC Housing’s funding requirements break down occupancy of the buildings funded under the CHF in economic terms, not based on Charter groups. For the Buller Street project, this translates into 20 per cent (or 7 units) rented at the “deep subsidy” rate of $375/month, 30 per cent (or 11 units) rented at or near market value, and 50 per cent (or 18 units) with rent-geared-to-income (RGI) for qualifying individuals,

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Chip Adams and mom Belinda Harrison. Photo: Kerith Waddington.

where rent is set at 30 per cent of gross monthly income. Given the very low incomes of individuals with IDD, most of whom receive Persons with Disability (PWD) funding, the SHC contends there are too few very low-income units being made available. Further, because very low-income seniors receiving a basic pension and individuals on income assistance also qualify for the deep subsidy units, there is even less supply available to individuals with IDD.

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That had many in the Ladysmith community, including Chip Adams, crying foul. “I watched the building going up with great anticipation,” says Chip, who currently shares a small space with another individual who has IDD. “To have a place of my own, to decorate it as I please and take pride in it, would be amazing. It’s infuriating that people aren’t sticking to their word.” Chip’s mother, Belinda Harrison, who was on the LRCA Board in 2019 and aware of the original vision for the building, agrees. “As a parent of a child with special needs, I have been keenly aware for a long time of the need for more housing,” she says. “I was so impressed with the LRCA’s plan to dedicate one-third of the building to persons with IDD. Many of us parents are getting older, and we would like to know where our children are going.” Harrison adds that the Heart on the Hill building is a legacy that could make things a little easier for other parents. “People often say that having

a child with IDD is like being on a different path. I can unequivocally say it is like living in a different country.” The two BC Housing-specific policies that the SHC contends place barriers to people with IDD having access to affordable housing include limiting the number of deep subsidy units to 20 per cent per project funded under the CHF and requiring specific rent returns be collected for RGI units. The Province is providing a grant of approximately $3.8 million from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund for the project and will provide approximately $227,000 in annual operating funds to allow 70 per cent of the units to be subsidized so they can be rented at below market rates. The CHF is part of the Province’s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan. It is an investment of $1.9 billion to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income families and individuals over 10 years. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the LRCA membership was requisitioned based on motions from the SHC.

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This meeting was held on July 14 and membership quadrupled in advance of the meeting. Over 80 per cent of the LRCA members directed the LRCA Board to honour the commitment to prioritize 12 units to seniors, families and persons with IDD, and over 79 per cent directed the Board to prioritize six deep subsidy units and six RGI units to persons with IDD. Former LRCA member and president Guido Weisz, who is supporting the SHC in their Human Rights complaint before the BC Tribunal, had this to say of the July 14 meeting: “Supporters demonstrated concern over the well-being of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and reaffirmed that we live in a caring community. The SHC thanks the LRCA membership for their steadfast support of the intent and vision that was the basis for the creation of the Heart on the Hill building in the first place. The membership also provided a clear message that they wanted the LRCA and SHC to work together and negotiate a solution with BC Housing.” Board president Vicky Stickwood-Hislop had this to say afterwards: “The Board held a successful membership meeting and we heard from members loud and clear. We have informed BC Housing, as the building’s funder, about the direction received from membership, and we will work directly and diligently with BC Housing on next steps. We remain energized to get the building completed in the coming months and are heartened by Ladysmith’s show of commitment to accessible, affordable, independent-living housing in our community.” For its part, BC Housing acknowledges that persons with IDD face barriers to housing in our province. They said this is specifically why 20 per cent of the units built in every CHF building built across the province — including this one in Ladysmith — are specifically set aside for individuals with extremely low incomes and are rented at the shelter rate of $375. Other prioritization, however, is not possible. “There is no specific group that receives a set number of units, as determined by a percentage or otherwise,” says BC Housing. “To do so would be unfair to others who are also in desperate need of housing. Demand for affordable housing in Ladysmith — as with most communities — exceeds supply and we need to use standard, fair and equitable processes to tenant the site.” They point out that the requirements of the CHF program were well documented in the Request for Proposal that LRCA responded to, as well as in the operating agreement signed by the LRCA. They add too that the motions by LRCA membership do not take precedence over signed agreements already in place, but noted they will enter into the mediation process with the BC Human Rights Tribunal in good faith. Guido Weisz remains hopeful that the recent vote by LRCA members and the Human Rights Tribunal will result in units being prioritized for individuals with IDD. “Achieving fairness and equity in the face of systemic discrimination is never easy and can take a long time to achieve results, but when the well-being of your children is on the line, we all must do what we can to help,” he says. A Go Fund Me Page “Support Persons with IDD in Ladysmith” has been set up with the goal of $7,500 to go towards legal fees needed to support their Human Rights Complaint against BC Housing and the Ministry for Social Development and Poverty Reduction on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Ladysmith.

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Historic boat arrives in Ladysmith

Sea Life Festival From 11 am to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2022, you will get a chance to learn more about the local sea life of Ladysmith harbour at the Sea Life Festival at Ladysmith Community Marina. The theme this year is octopus, which is fitting, as our area is home to the Giant Pacific Octopus says Richard Wiefelspuett, executive director of Ladysmith Maritime Society. “This year’s Sea Life Festival includes some of the familiar features as well as some new experiences,” he says. You can expect touch tanks, art projects, underwater cameras, science displays and music plus free refreshments for children. New this year, will be the opportunity to take out one of the society’s heritage rowing boats. Wiefelspuett says the educational component of the event is particularly dear to him. “It’s wonderful to see kids exploring the marine life. It inspires me.” The activities will take place at the big tent in front of the Welcome Centre at the Maritime Museum and Sea Life Centre. Parking will be along Oyster Bay Drive, and the LMS golf carts will be available to shuttle visitors. Fore more details visit www. lmsmarina.ca Above: Sea Life Festival 2021 Photo: Bob Burgess

On July 26, 2022, Dorothy celebrated her 125th year since her launch -- and hopes are that with continuing restoration now undertaken by the Ladysmith Maritime Society volunteers, she will be around for many more years. “Dorothy was the flagship of the Victoria Yacht Club and one of the very first yachts in the area,” says Angus Matthews former owner of Dorothy, and current board member for the Maritime Museum of BC “She was beautiful and graceful and moved like a rocket.” The 30’ sailboat Dorothy arrived at Ladysmith Maritime Society on June 30 from Gabriola Island, thanks to a free ride from BC Ferries. Volunteers are now working on the Dorothy. Commissioned by W.H. Langley,

Dorothy was built in Victoria in 1897 by shipbuilder John J. Robinson for $1800. Dorothy is a single-handed cruiser. One of her first accolades was winning Queen Victoria’s birthday regatta in 1900. A few years later Dorothy would sail into infamy. Her owner, Langley, was so sure of what he saw from the deck of the yacht that he signed an affidavit swearing to what may be the first official sighting of the legendary sea monster “Cadborosaurus”. That affidavit can still be found in the museum archives. “I became familiar with Dorothy while I was a judge at the Classic Boat Festival which is held in Victoria every Labour Day,” says Tony Grove, a shipbuilder from Gabriola. Grove agreed to store the boat while the museum raised money for the restoration and a temporary home for Dorothy. It has turned into a decade-long chapter in what has been an interesting life story for the 30-foot sailboat. “A deal has been struck with the Ladysmith Maritime Society which will care for Dorothy until the Maritime Museum of BC can establish a permanent home,” says Matthews. Robert Lawson and the LMS Boat restoration team of volunteers will be continuing the restoration work. The Dorothy is a very special boat for a number of reasons. “It’s a survivor, it is the oldest still registered sailboat built in Canada,” says Lawson. “It comes from an era of yacht design when the aesthetics were much more highly refined than what you see on the water today. It’s a very beautiful boat and it’s not just beautiful. It was designed to race and had a reputation for being very fast,” says Lawson who is researching her history and spearheading the work. Dorothy will be accessible to the public but will eventually return to Victoria Harbour once the BC Maritime Museum finds a permanent home. You can help secure Dorothy’s future by making a donation through the BCMM website, mmbc.bc.ca/dorothy/ The funds will go towards the restoration work being carried out at LMS. Robert Lawson with the Dorothy at LMS Boat Shed. Photo: Marina Sacht Above: Dorothy in her early days

RDN Area A Cedar Wow, summer has finally arrived and will be well on its way by the time you read this. Activities for RDN directors wind down for August, so I use the time to catch up on reading all of the endless reports generated throughout the year. You probably can guess how gripping the latest report on the pollution centre throughput can be — that’s why they made it 93 pages. I have also been spending time learning about the housing issue in Canada and our community specifically. Actually, the first thing I learned was that there isn’t a single housing issue; it’s a multitude of issues, from land costs, planning and building regulations, cost of borrowing for both owners and builders and availability of land that can be developed economically to the disparity between the growth in housing costs and that in wages, the demand of the market for larger and more stylish homes and several other minor factors. Finally, there is the whole making-aprofit-on-housing issue. While I am very much on the side of free markets and market-based pricing, I do have issues with large investment companies coming into our community and buying/ developing rental properties that generate high monthly rents. Way down on that list is foreign ownership, so we will

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ignore that! I am continuing to learn all I can about how we can respond to the current demand for housing that is affordable. I know young, university-educated people with good jobs that cannot afford the rents charged in Nanaimo for studio apartments. Even more serious is the recent talk of seniors who have been made to live in their cars because they can’t afford the rents being demanded. While the federal government discusses how to get people into electric cars and the province entertains ideas of billiondollar museums, somebody needs to get serious about homes for people who need them. There are several things that local government can do to assist in the provision of homes that people can afford. This is where I am putting my efforts going forward. The RDN has generated a couple of reports that show the need, and I am working through those to see what can be done. I must be clear, though. I am not in favour of taxing existing homeowners to help others stay housed. There are other ways to generate funds and create housing for more reasonable cost, and that’s where my interest lies. Stay tuned. I will be going deeper into this topic and probably boring a lot of people on the way. I am concerned, though, that without some significant changes, my children’s children and

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grandchildren will be born into a world where having a place to call home may be a distant memory.

CVRD Area H North Oyster/ Diamond General local elections are being held on October 15 this year. I will be running for re-election as director for Area H. After two years and being new to local government, I thought I would share my view of what it is like being an electoral area director. It has expanded my idea of neighbourhood and I have a new perspective on local government. I started with a keen sense of community for Area H but now have the appreciation that the CVRD is the greater community and that I have a lot of gaps in my knowledge. The greater community requires most of the director’s time. Meetings are weekly, and alternate between half days and full days on each Wednesday of every month, except August. Thursdays are reserved for special meetings or meetings that need more time. Public hearings and public information sessions are typically held in the evenings. And then there are closed meetings: items in a closed meeting have to meet the requirements of the local government act. Directors cannot share or discuss these items. It can be frustrating to receive information that factors in

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to decision-making but can’t be shared with anyone else. All of this time and energy spent by directors and staff are in effort of providing good governance. But when I listen to Area H residents, I hear a disconnect in what directors see as good governance and residents see — well to put it mildly — differently. In the last two years, my learning of this goes as follows: When people gather and develop common needs, they create the beginning of local governments. The more people, the more needs and, with increase in complexity, the more complex and diverse local government becomes (and further from the people). The more complexity and diversity, the more individual priorities get subsumed by the group. Therefore, I believe the role of a director is to make the connections between people and government, provide transparency in both process and decisions and ensure everyone has a voice and will be heard. This leads me to the most important facet of this role: helping others in my community. The issues are varied, from bylaw enforcement to potholes. I have written about some of the issues and resolved many but certainly not all. Some get done by working with other jurisdictions. Others, within the CVRD, follow a process that takes time to unfold. A key thing about being a director is learning how the process works to address issues. Every director will find their way — but when it comes to big issues, it means competing with the other electoral areas for limited resources. Getting the issue to the top of all the requests is a challenge. Keeping it there takes tact and strategic thinking. But a director is not alone. There are two local advisory commissions that tap into the community to help

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Trail upgrades a Yellow Point Park. Photo courtesy of Ben Maartman

with land-use decisions and community parks. And, there are local community groups that fundamentally want to make the community a better place to live. An example is the recent trail upgrades at Yellow Point Park. Your parks advisory commission was key to getting this work approved and completed. How would I summarize the role of director? It is all about community, here in Area H and across the CVRD. There is an amazing amount to learn. The people you work with are diverse, interesting and passionate. The community is great. And, as the picture shows, we live in paradise. The director’s next Town Hall Meeting is at the Diamond Hall at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022. Ben Maartman, 250-510-5930

CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands Saltair Community Parks & Trails Have you taken a walk through the Forested Loop in Centennial Park recently? An amazing upgrade has taken place: a smooth surface that has increased accessibility and a quick connection to the Saltair Commercial area and Chemainus Road. This project was done with fund-

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ing from the Saltair Community Parks Budget and grant funds. The Stocking Creek bridge replacement is currently out for bid and is the next project to be done this year. The upgrade to main trail in Diana, Princess of Wales Park will take place in the fall after review of the remaining funds in the 2022 Saltair Community Parks Budget, as project costs are coming in higher than were budgeted for. Stocking Lake Dam Replacement Grant Application CVRD Board at the June 22 board meeting authorized the following grant application. “That an application for grant funding through the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) Grant application through Federal/Provincial Community Building Fund — Capital Infrastructure, for the Stocking Lake Dam (Electoral Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands) in the amount up to $5,300,000 be submitted and that subject to grant approval, cost overruns and ineligible expenses be funded by capital and operating reserve funds, as well as connection fees from new customers.” The current dam is owned by the CVRD (Saltair Water System) and Town of Ladysmith. The replacement dam will be a new dam 30 metres in front of the current dam. Saltair Coastal Slope Stability — Bylaw 4427 Update To ensure all Saltair residents and property owners have had time to comment and provide feedback on the assessment and bylaw, I have arranged with CVRD staff to postpone bringing forward a Staff Report to the Electoral Area Service Committee for review until November 2022. The video of the June 2 presentation by Dr. Richard Guthrie and Hawley Beaugrand of Stantec Consulting will be posted on the CVRD website (www.cvrd.ca/3187/Natural-Hazards) in August. This will provide those that were unable to attend the presentation on June 2 an opportunity to watch the video and send in their comments and feedback. Regional Recreation — Nine Significant Facilities Referendum The CVRD staff has launched their communications with the CVRD communities on this referendum question. Please take the time to be informed on

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this referendum question, as it has an impact on your future taxation. Based on the current usage, Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands will fund $202,122 — “the residential tax rate per $100,000 of assessed value will be $15.33.” (The $1.5 million assessed value is approximately $230 and $750,000 assessed value is approximately $115.) This amount will be phased in over three years. The amount could change based on an increase in operational, maintenance and minor capital project costs at these nine facilities. A new usage assessment study will be done in five years. The proposed referendum question that will be on the upcoming October 2022 Local Government Election ballot will be based on the greater of up to $35 million or an amount equal to $1.0468 per $1,000. “CVRD Bylaw No. 4438 — Regional Recreation Funding Services Establishment Bylaw, 2022,” will allow the CVRD to annually requisition the greater of up to $35 million or an amount equal to the amount that could be raised by a property tax rate of $1.0468 per $1,000 of the net taxable value of land and improvements within the service area to fund the costs of nine “regionally significant recreation facilities.” What this means is that currently the amount Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands will fund is $202,122, and in the future, it could reach approximately $426,808 based on the $35 million. (But it could be higher than this in the future.) Saltair Recreation Budget There seems to be some confusion on the current funding of the Saltair Community Centre under this budget. Saltair taxpayers continue to pay oﬀ a loan from upgrades done to the Centre in 2018 (approximately $30,000 per year). Taxpayers also pay the building insurance of approximately $5,000 per year. Saltair taxpayers are funding the Saltair Community Centre about $35,000 per year. The fi nal loan payment will be in 2023 for this loan that was taken out under the past board and Area G director. If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact me at lynne. smith@cvrd.bc.ca or 250-701-1407. Additional articles and information can be found at Saltair News and Views (www. SaltairNews.ca).

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Photo: Worm Farm Guru

so it has become the star in vermiculture, a recent compost technology. Even though earthworms’ importance to agriculture has been known since Neolithic times, vermiculture began in 1972, when a Michigan biology teacher, Mary Appelhof, bought some E. fetida from a local bait shop and set up a worm farm in her basement. Soon vermiculture was recognized as a viable, yearround composting method. The soil-like castings are ready in three to four weeks (about one-third of the time of regular compost bins) and contain five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and 1,000 times more beneficial bacteria, which are essential for plants to uptake nutrients and fight oﬀ disease better than untreated soil. The process of vermicomposting is simple: Start with a rectangular container and drill some holes for aeration in the lid, provide bedding such as a bit of soil and shredded newspaper that is as moist as a wrung-out sponge, bury the worms, and bury the food. Their food will be your kitchen’s organic waste — like cores, peelings, egg shells, tea bags, and other organics but no meat and

The Mighty Worm BY JO CANNING, MASTER GARDENER Earthworms help home gardeners by creating nutrient-rich soil. Europeans introduced the earthworm to the Americas in the 16th century, and 30 species now inhabit every continent except Antarctica. Although they are not beneficial for our forest soil, which evolved without them after the Ice Age, our modified garden soils benefit from worm castings, aka worm poo. Earthworms are usually referred to by the generic term “earthworms” or “common earthworms.” Composting worms are a diﬀerent species and are typically given names like “redworms” or “red wigglers.”

Worms are ecosystem engineers that accelerate decomposition and make high levels of soil nutrients. They aerate and allow better moisture penetration as they tunnel in the soil. Studies prove they help clean contaminated land by bioremediation, where micro-organisms break down pollutants and convert them to non-toxic molecules. Finally, worms provide a protein-rich food for frogs, birds, and other mammals. The red wriggler, Eisenia fetida, thrives in warm manure piles and compost bins,

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dairy — cut into small pieces. Check the bin periodically to see the rate of their consumption and add food as needed. The worms consume the organics and thn eliminate their waste, which is the nutrient-rich black gold! Household wormeries come in two common styles: small-space stacking units and the larger horizontal style, which is favoured by most enthusiasts, as it is inexpensive and quickly constructed. Both are equally eﬃcient. How to use vermicompost Screened vermicompost is a fantastic moist compost that can be used to amend soil in your garden beds. • Mix it with soil for starting seeds or for potted plants. Using just one-part compost to 10-parts soil will give you optimal results. • Use in your vegetable gardens and flower beds by placing it between plants and gently working it into the soil. • Use it for your transplants. Add some to the bottom of the hole you have dug before transplanting. When you use worm casting and get to see that your plants are bigger, healthier

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from Cresta Roca Farm on Gabriola Island (crestarocafarm.com). You can start a viable wormery with a 227 grams (1/2 lb.) of red wrigglers, which usually sells for approximately $30. In a healthy bin, they quickly increase their numbers.

Photo: Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm

and produce larger harvests, you might become a vermi-convert. May the fetida be with you. Resources: This website has great instructions for making your own vermicomposting bin: whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/ easywormbin.htm. Another website has reviewed five bin models for consumers: epicgardening.com/best-worm-composter. Two book suggestions are Worms at Work by Crystal Stevens and Worms and Wormeries by Michael Woolnough. Locally, red wrigglers are available

Certified master gardeners are volunteers who provide education to the home gardener using current, science-based horticultural knowledge that exemplifies environmentally responsible practices and stewardship.

Fire: Friend or Foe in the Forest BY K. BRAUCKMANN, EIS NATURALIST The destruction that a raging forest fire leaves in its wake evokes feelings of sadness and shock in many of us. A once beautiful forest can become a blackened plain within a matter of hours. However, although it may not seem like it, the death and destruction caused by wildfires is a beneficial process for many ecosystems. Historically, massive wildfires would sweep through our coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems every 200 years, burning through large stands of trees. These

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Mount Hayes Fire. Photo: Bob Burgess.

events took out trees and thick vegetation, creating openings that would allow for more sunlight to reach the forest floor. They also cleared out organisms like viruses and pests and those that cause disease. If you walk through an old-growth forest, you will probably notice black charring on the bark of older Douglasfir trees. This is evidence of forest fires that have swept through the area, leaving behind Douglas-fir trees that have bark thick enough to withstand a fire. The fireresistant bark of Douglas-fir trees is why

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they are one of the predominant tree species here on Vancouver island. Most of us have heard the myth that broken branches, stumps and fallen trees on the forest floor are a dangerous fire hazard. In many managed forests and parks, this coarse woody debris is taken away to maintain a “clean look.” In a healthy ecosystem, however, the woody material on the forest floor naturally occurs and has many benefits. In the wet months, it absorbs huge amounts of water, which it releases slowly like a sponge during the dry summer months, keeping the forest cool and hydrated. If you have ever tried to start a campfire with wet kindling, you know that this wet, rotting wood does not burn quickly or easily. Coarse woody debris also creates homes for hundreds of species within the forest. As the wood begins to break down, it also becomes a crucial nutrient source for all the trees and plants, feeding into the life cycle of the forest. When a fire occurs in a healthy forest, the woody debris that does burn is recycled in a diﬀerent way: it becomes ash. Wood ash is high in potassium and cal-

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Mount Hayes Fire. Photo courtesy CVRD

cium; along with traces of other elements, these nutrients are key to creating fertile ground and happy, healthy plants. Small, low-intensity, controlled fires can also be used to prevent large fires around building sites and to add nutrients to the soil. Pre-contact, Coast Salish Indigenous peoples practised controlled burns throughout the forests here. They know that after forest fires, the berries and fruit in an impacted area are much sweeter due to the nutrients in the ash and the fires will stimulate growth of various plants, including ones with medicinal properties. First Nations peoples in the area would also practise prescribed burns around the borders of their communities, creating breaks in fuel availability. By creating small forest fires that are low intensity, they were able to keep various ecosystems healthy and cared for, like one giant garden. Post-contact, the practice of controlled burns was outlawed. In addition, current logging practices alter nutrient cycling of the forest and do not manage surface fuels. As a result of this and the eﬀects of climate change, fuel-loaded forest fires have become commonplace during the summer months in BC. This has fueled the fear of fire. Although we should have a healthy respect and caution for fire, we must not forget the important role that fire plays in a healthy ecosystem. Fire is a catalyst for new growth, renewal and the return of nutrients to the earth. It is an important part of a healthy ecosystem and, under the right circumstances, can be of great benefit to the forest as a whole.

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Looking Back to the Beginning of the Universe BY GUY DAUNCEY While we have been quietly growing our tomatoes, kayaking on the ocean and working at our jobs, a team of the planet’s most brilliant people have been sending a telescope one and a half million kilometres into space. They want to see more of the Universe, going further back in time. To do this, they designed the James Webb Space Telescope, with eighteen hexagonal mirrors, each four feet wide and so utterly flat that if you stretched it across the Atlantic, any ripple in its surface could rise only an inch or two. Then they sent it beyond the moon, where the temperature is minus 250 Celsius, so that no heat could disturb its infra-red measurements. When they had unfolded its solar panels, via instructions from NASA on Earth, they pointed it into distant space. In July, they got their first results. To describe the photo shown, NASA says that if you take a grain of sand and hold it at arm’s length, that’s how small an area of the Universe it covers. For a closer look, see www.tinyurl.com/ SpaceWonder. The photo shows a host of galaxies, each of which might contain up to a trillion stars, each of which

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might have a solar system containing planets. There’s one tiny red dot that NASA scientists say is from a star 13.1 billion light years away, which means, we are seeing it as it was 700 million years after the Universe began. What has this to do with us here in Chemainus, Saltair and Ladysmith? It stretches our minds; it blows the lichen and moss oﬀ our imaginations. Everything we are has its origins in this history, all that time ago. If life has developed elsewhere in the Universe, which is a trillion per cent likely, it will share the same origins. There are no “aliens” out there: only relatives, in one cosmic family. Our minds themselves are the product of 13.8 billion years of cosmic evolution; they are the Universe learning to think about itself. As mine searches for understanding, it thinks that since we have consciousness, this must be an inherent property of the Universe, which probably permeates all reality. Most people accept that cats, dogs and other animals are conscious. But what about ants? Trees? Fungi? Is it perhaps logical to think that all existence must possess some form of consciousness? Where else did ours come from if not from our cosmic story? This would mean that our cosmic relatives are conscious too. Some of those relatives might have learned how to make space telescopes ten million years ago. They might be observing us, as we step out from our clan-based identities to realize that we are one human family. They may be groaning, as they watch us make the same mistakes their ancestors made ten million years before. Destroying the forests, overharvesting the fish, polluting the atmosphere. It is not long since our

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Image of our Universe sparks our imagination. Below: James Webb telescope showing its mirrors. Photo Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI.

ancestors used to burn women alive, for fear that they were witches. They used to kill Blacks, Jews and Indigenous people to boost their self-importance and enforce their right to dominate. They used to assume that winning was more important than wisdom. Some people say that when they realize the vastness of the Universe, they feel utterly insignificant, that everything we do is meaningless. When I consider the journey of cosmic evolution and everything the Universe has created, I am filled with gratitude. We are on a grand journey so amazing that each of us has 37 trillion cells in our body, all of which are cooperating and self-organizing to keep us healthy and enable us to share these thoughts. Along the way, we make mistakes. We do cruel and stupid things. But in the big picture, the one the telescope reveals, we are learning, muddling our way towards wisdom. Guy Dauncey is a local author, who volunteers with the Yellow Point Ecological Society. www.yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca

“They can take your normal, understanding wife and turn her into an intransigent, tomatoobsessed tyrant.”

Royal Tomatoes They say a man’s home is his castle. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you doubt me, drop by for a lookaround. We do, however, have a palace on the property . . . for the tomatoes — their latest demand, but by no means their only one. It started off three years ago when my wife’s happiness depended on having a garden to grow her own tomatoes. We have a deer problem, and the garden needed an eight-foot fence in addition to fertilizer, compost and manure. All that had to be rototilled in by you-know-who. Kiss goodbye to precious hours of goofing off and 500 bucks. End result? Maybe seven red tomatoes but lots of unripe green ones. “Not enough sun,” my wife declared. Funny, because by the time I finished

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rototilling, I was fire truck red. At her insistence, we called up the tree guy, who, for a paltry $500, trimmed the maple tree partially blocking the sun. That second year, still only seven tomatoes, four of them so deformed I posted a sign in the garden warning about the downside of inbreeding. This year’s project was the tomato palace, built to protect tomatoes from “the blight,” which is pretty much the venereal disease of the plant kingdom. Very West Coast, the palace is a structure of cedar and glass with its own running water. My wife hasn’t asked for grow lights and a big screen TV yet, but I know they’re in the works. If you’re getting the idea that tomatoes are a demanding plant, you’ve got it right. In my opinion, they’re a dangerous agricultural menace. But this should come as no surprise. Just look at some of their names: Beefsteak, Celebrity, Lemon Boy, Big Boy. Attitude or what? To make matters worse, they’re the lowest class of scoundrel. They’re ladies’ men. They know how to manipulate females. They can take your normal, understanding wife and turn her into an intransigent, tomato-obsessed tyrant. The Internet is full of sites listing all the latest tomato demands, demands that I am not making up. First off, they want their own house, something I didn’t get until age forty. Then they want handwatering; automatic sprinklers aren’t good enough because tomatoes won’t tolerate getting their hair wet. They only

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want water at their base. Oh, and make sure that water is heated, just like a baby’s bottle. And while you’re at it, be a prince and heat the soil. No, I am not kidding. Their fertilizer demands are equally fussy. No standard fish fertilizer for them. Instead, they only want fertilizer from 100 per cent sashimi-grade Ahi tuna, or if that’s unavailable, line-caught Fraser River Coho. Then we get into their exercise program. Twice a day, for ten minutes each time, they should be subjected to the wind from fans. This toughens up their wimpy stalks. That’s right — core exercises twice a day for the tomatoes. And no chintzing, please; spend some money and get them a good personal trainer. But you know what? We’re buying into this. Store-bought tomatoes come from massive agribusiness farms in California. Don’t tell me these ruthless farming capitalists are putting up with all this pampering nonsense. No way! That’s why, at my insistence, we formed a local support group called Tomatoes Anonymous (TOMANON). There, we learn basic life skills and coping strategies for standing up to our tomatoes’ wretched codependence. There, we learn that tomatoes cause 17 per cent of North American divorces. Or, in the words of Harvey Bogshead from Mud Lake, Saskatchewan, “For 25 years, our marriage was going great. I never had to do a thing. Then she got the tomato plants. Before you can say

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‘Vitamin C sucks,’ those tomatoes were living in a nicer house than we had. When I came home from work one day and found she had moved the TV and my easy chair out there, that’s when I had to seek help.” The broken family is especially prevalent when one spouse believes in tough love, while the other is a tomato enabler, like my wife. So, we’re going to regular meetings, getting through this as best we can, trying to keep the cost of tomato production under $100 a tomato. For a while there, she was demanding every tree in a fifty-metre radius be cut down so the tomatoes can get more light, but I talked her out of it. Wait a minute! There she is now, directing some deliverymen. Hold on, what’s that? A heat pump? They’re installing a heat pump at the palace. Operator, get me TOMANON and hurry. It’s an emergency. Wine pick of the month For all of your favourite summer BBQ dishes, here’s a great red wine companion: From the Douro River Valley (source of Port Wine) in Portugal, Vicente Faria “Animus”. A delicious red blend made from Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Nacional. Around $15 on sale. Pick up a copy of Delbert’s Slightly Corked for some great reading. $20 at the Mahle House, and the TAKE 5 oﬃce. What a deal! Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com

Summer Markets BY ELLY SMITH Summer is definitely here, and that means time to explore the local markets. We have markets from Duncan to Nanaimo and all in between. Here’s a few to begin with so grab your shopping bags, bring your appetite and let’s go on a road trip! Nanaimo Commercial Street Night Market Every Thursday night until Sept 1, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., you will find booths along Commercial Steet and Downtown, along with 10 food trucks at Diana Krall Plaza. Kim Smythe, CEO of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce tells us, “People have shown how happy they are to be connecting socially again, with thousands showing up weekly to enjoy the festivities and attractions!” More information at www.facebook.com/even ts/431761770942058/431761807608721/. Nanaimo’s Sip, Stroll and Shop A walk and shop while wine, beer or cider tasting? Indeed, support 10 boutique wineries and 10 unique businesses in Nanaimo’s Historic Old City Quarter, Friday, August 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets will include a charcuterie board in-a-box. Tickets at www.winewalks.ca.

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Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market Check out the original farmers’ market, located in the heart Downtown Nanaimo along the picturesque Nanaimo waterfront at Pioneer Plaza. You will find live music, farm, food and craft vendors every Saturday morning until Labour Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (nanaimodowntownfarmersmarket.com). Island Roots Market and Co-Op Nanaimo’s only year-round farmers’ market, the Island Roots Market and Co-op runs every Wednesday, with it’s summer market from April to October from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. behind the Centennial Building at Beban Park (2300 Bowen Road) and it’s winter market from mid-October inside the Centennial Building from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (islandrootsmarket.ca). Cedar Farmers’ Market Every Sunday until October 31, at 1984 Woodbank Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market features locally grown fruits, veggies, ethically raised meats, sustainable seafood, potted plants, jewellery, food trucks, handmade gelato and so much more (www.facebook.com/ CedarFarmersMarket/). The Good Market Ladysmith From August 6, 9 am to 2 p.m., at 1149 4th Avenue (Bethel Church parking lot), you will find a space for makers and growers to sell their handmade goods (thecttnwdco@gmail.com). Chemainus Outdoor Market Every Wednesday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., downtown Chemainus is filled with vendors that grow it, bake it and make it. Relax and nibble on your findings next to the fountain at the market square on 9790 Willow Street (visitchemainus.ca/ listings/wednesday-market/).

AUGUST 2022

Russel Farm Market and Garden Centre Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., get your fresh veggies, fruit, deli meats and bird baths at the Russel Farm Market and Garden Centre (2711 Mt Sicker Road), just north of Duncan (russellfarmmarket.com). Duncan Farmers’ Market Every Saturday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 200 Craig Street, market square and down Ingram Street, look for the sea of tents. Priority has been given to local farmers, growers, artisans, and food trucks too! Plan to stay for lunch and enjoy the sights and sounds (duncanfarmersmarket.ca). Looking for more information, check out bcfarmersmarkettrail.com. *****

30th Anniversary at Zannata On the weekend of August 13-14, Zanatta Winery will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary with complimentary wine tastings and pasta. There will also be champagne sabering demonstrations and an opportunity to talk with their winemaker. Zanatta is a small family winery producing premium Cowichan Valley wines from their single estate vineyard. The winery oﬃcially opened in 1992, selling the first Vancouver Island-made champagne: Glenora Fantasia, 1990. Come on out and raise a glass to their success.

Tradition and Perogies At the Hungry Rooster Kitchen, perogies, a traditional Polish dumpling, represent their family history. “The recipes we use have been passed down from past

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Moon Legends from the Great Lakes BY SEER TAMARE WHITE-WOLF

Jim and Loretta Fantasia of Zannata

generations,” says manager Kim Murefu. Back then, children would gather at the table and handmake perogies with grandma and mom’s guidance. Today, you will find their flour-dusted staff also gathered around tables, pinching dough and sharing laughs while making perogies. “We work with local farms to source our ingredients and do not use any preservatives to make our products,” says Kim Whether you want a warm meal or a bag of frozen perogies, you can find them at the Hungry Rooster Kitchen. There are different flavours including vegan and gluten-free. The Hungry Rooster also offers catering service. Send in your TABLE TALK suggestions, ideas, and new culinary delights to info@take5.ca. Hungry Rooster Kitchen catering at Ladysmith Community Marina. Photo: Nadine Wong

On August 8, 2022, we will be having a full moon. There are many legends surrounding moons. Here is one from the Great Lakes. Each moon reflects what is predominantly happening naturally in the season it presents. There are normally 25 full moons in a two-year period. Each one has a grandmother moon teaching for us! This August is the eighth moon; it’s teaching inspires us to listen carefully, paying attention to what stirs our awakening. It encourages us to connect with the spirit world, reminding us of our ancestors, who guide us to walk successfully toward our true path. It promises our ability to attract exactly what we need and to be confident as it unfolds. This is called “the Blackberry Moon.” This plant was one of the very first created during the darkest time and in the most silent Universe. The silence allowed it to delve deep within to know its full being. In this time of going within, an abundant Earth began to grow and emerge around its roots. As Blackberry watched on, it saw small creatures learn to swim, plants flower and seed, and thunderstorms create the most beautiful rainbows. The Blackberry listened twice as much as it spoke, and all the beings felt comfortable around it. Blackberry guided all who came with questions and concerns. It noticed many wanted immediate answers to all their worries, though never put eﬀort to see the depth of their issues in order to find resolve. Blackberry would pose questions to each being in an attempt to stimulate their thinking, reminding them that their spirit and heart had a knowing, and tuning them into their dreams, how the land spoke, how their hearts feel and how to listen to their own intuition. Those that listened to their own spirit became calm, confident and independent. They realized that everyone has value, leadership and, ultimately, their own beauty. All the competition and conflict settled down as each being was now aware of their own personal medicine gifts. All the plants asked to make Blackberry the chief. However, it declined in humility, embracing them as a medicine circle stressing that no one is above another in a circle! When you look at the moon this month, remember your worth, your dreams and your connection to spirit. Contact Tamare White-Wolf, seer, psychic and minister, at 1280 Scotchtown Road, Nanaimo, and for more empowerment healing stories, visit www.EarthandSkyConnection.com.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING LMS Harbour Boat Tours; lmsmarina.ca Tea & Tales, Thursdays at 2:30pm to 3:30pm, Ladysmith Museum, 721 First Ave.; www. ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca

Aug 28 Ladysmith’s Arts on the Avenue, 10am to 4pm, First Ave.; www.artsontheavenue.ca

Chemainus Wednesday Outdoor Market, hosted by the Chemainus Chamber of Commerce, 10am to 5pm, across from the Waterwheel Park, 9796 Willow St .; www.chemainus.bc.ca/news-events

]Aug 28 Sea Life Celebration, Ladysmith Maritime Community Marina; www.lmsmarina. ca/sea-life-celebration/

Nanaimo Thursday Night Market, hosted by the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, 5pm to 9pm, Commercial Street; www.facebook.com/even ts/431761770942058/431761807608721/

FOR SALE

August 5 & 19 Dine on the Dock, 5:30pm, Ladysmith Community Marina; tickets 250-2451146 August 11–14 Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival, Maffeo Sutton Park; www.nanaimoblues. ca August 12 & 26 Music on the Dock, 7pm, Ladysmith Community Marina; 250-245-1146 August 13 Cowichan’s Craft Beer & Food Festival, the Cowichan Valley’s premiere craft beer event, noon to 5pm, Doc Lewis Park, 9740 Elm St., Chemainus; www.craftbeerandfoodfest. com/events/craft-beer-food-fest-2022 August 14 Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival Presents: Cymbeline, 2pm to 4pm; www. eventbrite.ca/e/cowichan-valley-shakespearefestival-2022-tickets-351553825957 Aug 14 & 21 Ladysmith Concerts in the Park, fundraiser for LRCA, 6pm to 8pm; www.lrca.ca/ events/concerts-in-the-park/ August 17 Ladysmith & District Historical Society AGM, 5pm to 7pm, Ladysmith Museum, August 20 Show & Shine Ladysmith, 10am to 3pm, First Ave.; www.ladysmithshowandshine.ca Aug 27 Ladysmith’s Light up the Night, 6pm to 9:30pm, First Ave.; www.artsontheavenue.ca

FISH FISH FISH. Buy direct from the guy who caught it! High-quality salmon, lingcod, rockfish. All fish blast frozen at sea. Satisfaction guaranteed! Contact Jim oceandancer.wallace@ gmail.com or 250-245-5957/250-739-1123. CAL 25’ SAILBOAT $2K.l 250-756-8892. BUSINESS I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or non fiction, web content and eBook prep. For more info, email editican@gmail.com. FARM FRESH EMPRESS ACRES FARM. Pasture-raised chickens, pork, eggs, flowers, strawberries and a variety of vegetables including pickling cucumbers and dill. Visit our new Farm Store at 2974 Haslam Road, Nanaimo. Visit our website: www.empressacres.ca. HEALTH & WELLNESS TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner class Monday mornings. Ongoing class every Wednesday morning. For class time and location and more information, visit www.taichinanaimo. org or call Sara 250-245-1466. WORKSHOPS THAT HEAL. Anyone Can Massage * The Sanctuary — 1 day Retreat * Fun With Essential Oils * Art Heals and more! Info at www.wildflowernaturalhealth.ca. Call Marilyn. HOME & YARD CLEANING. A senior in Saltair is looking for a mature home cleaning lady for 1 day per month. Starting mid August. The current cleaning lady of 13 years is retiring. Please call 250-245-7684. PAINTER: Certified Journeyman. Clean, efficient, respectful, punctual, responsible. 20+ years’ experience. WCB coverage. Enhance your enjoyment of the home you love. Call Howard 250-245-2751.

AUGUST 2022

KB HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKS. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, power washing, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@ gmail.com or 250-714-2738. HEART LAKE ROOFING for all your roofing repairs 250-668-9195. QUALITY RENOVATIONS. Big or small. 25 years’ exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate, call Lars 250-616-1800. ALL ACRES providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling, hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265. DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 35 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. Renovations For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823. MAKE IT NICE. Qualified, experienced, gardening and fruit tree pruning. Available for private, residential gardens. Please call 250-754-9346. CONCRETE RESULTS. Foundations, retaining walls, patios, driveways, walks and stairs. Full forming and finishing. 40 years’ experience. Email Gord at concreteresults@ live.com. ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large & small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260. ART EXPERT FINE ART CLASSES. “My fine art practice makes me fully alive and gives my life meaning and purpose.” Is this what you want? If so, or visit www. strasbourgthomsponstudio.ca or call Barry at 250-210-2237. PETS PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE “leash ’em & walk ’em” with Marlena. I have Animal First Aid, CPR and criminal record check. My service for all pet includes dog walking, home care visits, overnight in your home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250-246-3394. The PET NANNY is back. I have cared for animals for the last 7 years. I offer overnight care at your home or daily home visits for pets or home security. Email sburchard@hotmail.ca or call 250-924-8809. TAKE 5 ADS work! Get them working for you. info@ take5.ca or 250-245-7015

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A tale of two unicorns A great horse will change your life. The truly special ones define it. - unknown author As I sit here on the swing, in the shade of a rather large cedar tree protecting me from the sun/cloud/rain (take your pick; give it an hour and we’ll get all three!), I’m looking out at the corral, where my two unicorns remain sequestered. I watch them nibble away patiently — nay, more like rambunctiously — at their hay net bags, nuzzling, prodding, lifting, teasing the stands of dried grass through the macramé woven sacs. It’s been a tough-love situation here with my steeds, and for many horse folks with “easy keepers” this spring and summer. The rains made pastures lush, lush, lush and, like myself when presented with delicious food, zero resistance to eat, eat, eat. It wasn’t until Shane, my trusty farrier, came to give them their pedicures that their new life started — titled “Sage & Sisco on the Fat Farm.” And it’s a new life for me, too, healthier, physically and emotionally. Like many young girls, I have dreamed of having a horse almost all my life. How many times did I watched National Velvet with Liz Taylor and was smitten ... with the horse. Then, there was Dale Evans with Buttermilk. Although I loved Roy Rogers and his magnificent palomino, Trigger, I was totally captivated by the females, with their beautiful beasts. I’m pretty sure I was four when my mother had to write out my Santa list for me and chuckled away as I said, “A horse,” as my first entry. Laurie made me continue that traditional list (along with setting out milk, cookies and carrots for the reindeer!), and each year, for 41 of our 43 years together, “a horse” remained number 1.

When we bought the farm, my dream became almost tangible, but reality crept in. It takes time and money to have a horse, so I would have to settle for dogs, cats and a couple of rescue sheep. I did get to board a couple of horses (Brandy’s in the cover shot above), but that didn’t last long enough. And I did get a stick horse, Pal, in 2005. Still have him; he was featured with me in my cowgirl getup for a TAKE 5 piece a few years back. I thought that would be the closest I’d ever get to the dream. But true to form, Laurie was hatching a plan, a year-long one with a Welsh pony farmer named Jessie James. And come anniversary time (he later said that Christmastime would be too cold and wet for complete enjoyment), after 60 years of wishing, I finally hit the jackpot. We were at Jessie’s farm, under the guise of Laurie helping her fine-tune a creek recovery action plan. I loved going with him because while they talked, I got to walk around and be with all her ponies. That day she said, “Hey, I just got two Section B Welshes and they’re in the arena.” I skedaddled in quickly, both of them following close behind. And there they were, galloping around the arena, almost pure white with some sweet freckles. I’ve been corrected a few times about their colour, not being equine-educated and all, that they are not white but actually “Perlino.” Alrighty then. Mom and son — Sage, with the long white tail and mane and big brown eyes, and her son Sisco, with the dark tail and mane and ice blue aqua marine eyes. Section Bs are not small, originally developed by breeding the smaller Section A Welsh mountain pony with Arabians. And you can tell. Man, can you tell. That

Jackie Moad with her horses at Thistledown Farm in Cedar. Photo submitted.

face! I was in love ... again. Then Jessie handed me their pedigrees and ownership papers and said, “Happy anniversary.” I cried and cried. Not a pretty sight for the photo op! My life was complete. But within a year and a half, things at the farm had changed; life had become so very, very diﬀerent and hectic with Laurie’s passing, and riding the horses was hard to maintain and also so bittersweet. They enjoyed the pastures, so they became my lovely lawn ornaments ... until six weeks ago, when Shane educated me. Sisco had “cresty neck” — a precursor to laminitis. Sage looked like she was ready to have another foal. They never went back on the field. Now it’s special non-fat/non-sugar grain, net bags for their limited flakes of hay and exercise — lunging and lunging, and now with blankets and saddle on. They now spend at least three hours a day with me. The change in them is amazing. They’ve become so loveydovey. And my heart just melts when I’m with them. There is a reason why horses are used so much for therapy. THIS is what his gift was all about. Unicorns? What hippie nonsense is this, calling my horses unicorns? But they are quite magical to me. Jackie Moad is getting back on the saddle again and like the sign on her front door reads, “Live like someone left the gate open,” all the while continuing to farm that 20-acre organic slice of Paradise in Cedar. And to her readers, she says, “May the horse be with you!”